COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 2003 Ohio State women’s lacrosse season proved to be the best in the eight-year history of the program. The Buckeyes won a school record 14 games, captured the American Lacrosse Conference championship, swept the major ALC postseason awards and received its second consecutive at-large bid to the NCAA Championship, advancing to the quarterfinals with an upset of fourth-seeded Duke.

OSU opened the 2003 season ranked 11th in the preseason Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association poll. OSU had finished the 2002 season ranked 12. The Buckeyes opened the season with a disappointing 11-10 loss at home to unranked Stanford. OSU held a 9-5 lead early in the second half before the Cardinal scored six straight goals to secure the upset. Freshman Kim Hastings (Sewickley, Pa.) took the loss in goal in her first collegiate outing.

The 11th-ranked Buckeyes took to the road to face 19th-ranked Richmond. Down, 6-5, with 17 minutes left, a Shannon Wilson (Sr., Sherkston, Ontario) goal tied the game at six and Tracey Bounds (Sr., Ellicott City, Md.) scored the game-winner with four minutes to go for a 7-6 victory over the Spiders. At Lafayette, 18th-ranked Ohio State won 11-2 opening a 5-0 first half lead with Regina Oliver (So., Pottstown, Pa.) scoring a game-high three goals.

Opening conference play at home against 15th-ranked Johns Hopkins, the No. 18 Buckeyes defeated the Blue Jays, 9-6, building a 6-1 lead and never trailing behind two goals each from Oliver and Alexia Vogler (Sr., Ellicott City, Pa.). OSU then defeated Virginia Tech, 14-5, behind a game-high four goals from Noemi Hites (Jr., Pleasanton, Calif.). OSU goalie Erin Forquer (So., Shaker Heights, Ohio) was named ALC Player of the week for her efforts in the two games. The 17th-ranked Buckeyes returned to the road to face No. 20 Northwestern, winning 14-4, with Oliver and Bounds collecting three goals each. Oliver was named the ALC Player of the Week for her play against the Wildcats. OSU, now ranked 16th, continued on the road to No. 14 Notre Dame and collected a 12-9 victory behind Oliver’s game-high four goals.

Ohio State returned home to host the ALC/ACC Challenge, facing ninth-ranked North Carolina in the first round. The Buckeyes won its seventh consecutive game, 10-8, over the Tar Heels behind Wilson’s four goals. The win set an OSU record for most consecutive wins. That streak ended two days later with a 10-5 loss to second-ranked Maryland.

At Davidson, the 10th-ranked Buckeyes won 17-3 with a game-high four goals by Bounds and three from Wilson. The following week Ohio State, now ranked 11th, faced seventh-ranked Cornell on the road. Trailing, 6-5, in the second half, Cornell scored four goals in six minutes to hold a 9-6 lead at 49:47. The Buckeyes, with two goals from Oliver and one from Ashley Evans (So., Ellicott City, Md.) tied the game at nine to force overtime. Tied at 10-all in the overtime, Vogler scored with two seconds remaining to give Ohio State an 11-10 victory.

Back home, Ohio State defeated California, 12-6 behind four goals from Wilson and three from KC Carter (Fr., Birchrunville, Pa). The Buckeyes now ranked ninth, hosted No. 17 Vanderbilt, the defending ALC Champions. Trailing, 6-2 in the first half, the Commodores rallied to tie the game at 10 and sent it into overtime. Each squad scored in the first overtime and just 58 seconds into the second OT, Vanderbilt scored to secure the 11-10 victory.

At Duquesne, the 10th-ranked Buckeyes won, 10-5, to secure its 11th victory of the season and tied the OSU record for most wins in a season set the past season. The Buckeyes then traveled to ninth-ranked Penn State in a critical ALC showdown. Ohio State, 3-1 in the conference gave the Nittany Lions a 10-9 loss for its first defeat in the conference. Penn State held a 4-0 lead early and led 5-4 at halftime. The Buckeyes were leading 8-6 before the Nittany Lions tied the game at eight. Scores by both teams made it 9-9 with five minutes left. OSU’s Oliver scored the winning goal at 56:12 to secure the important win. The 12th victory of the season set an OSU record for wins in a season. Wilson was honored as the ALC Player of the Week for her efforts in the two wins.

In the final regular season contest, Ohio State defeated Ohio University, 15-9; to finish 13-3 overall and 5-1 in the ALC. Caroline Weatherill scored five goals against the Bobcats and was named the ALC Player of the Week. The importance of the win was that it tied the Buckeyes with Penn State in the final conference standings, but because of OSU’s 10-9 win at Penn State, Ohio State won the outright conference championship.

Ohio State received an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship and faced the No. 4 seed Duke, in Durham, for a first round game. The Buckeyes overcame a 3-1 Blue Devil lead with six straight goals to open a 7-3 lead. Leading, 9-4, OSU saw Duke cut the lead to 9-7 but held on for a 10-7 first-ever NCAA victory behind Caroline Weatherill’s (Jr., Malvern, Pa.) game-high four goals. The win advanced the Buckeyes to the quarterfinals to face defending NCAA champion Princeton in New Jersey. OSU held a 7-6 late in the first half before the Tigers exploded for eight consecutive goals going on to win 17-8. Princeton then defeated Maryland, 5-3, in the semifinals and won the NCAA title with an 8-7-overtime victory over Virginia.

Ohio State swept the major awards in the American Lacrosse Conference. Oliver was named the Player of the Year with Forquer honored as the Goalie of the Year. Carter was selected as the Rookie of the Year while head coach Sue Stimmel was named the ALC Coach of the Year. Oliver, Forquer, Bounds and Wilson were named to the ALC first team while Kimberly Lowe (Sr., Philadelphia, Pa.) was a second team selection. Head coach Stimmel was honored as the ALC Coach of the Year and was named the IWLCA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.

In national honors, OSU had three student-athletes named to the IWLCA/U.S. Lacrosse All-American Team. Oliver and Wilson were selected to the second team and Lowe was named to the third team. On the regional level, Lowe joined Oliver, Wilson and Lowe as first team selections. Oliver was honored as a first team All-American on the Warrior/Inside Lacrosse and the womenslacrose.com squad. Forquer and Wilson were named to the second team and Bounds and Lowe to the third team of the Warrior/Inside Lacrosse squad. Bounds, Forquer and Wilson were selected to the second team and Lowe, the third team on womenslacrosse.com while Carter was named to the All-Rookie Team.

Along with setting the OSU record for wins (14) in a season, several Buckeye statistical records were set. Bounds set an OSU season record for ground balls with 75 while establishing a new career mark in assists with 62. Oliver became the OSU season leader in caused turnovers with 53. Wilson became the OSU career leader in ground balls with 159. Forquer recorded 14 wins to set the Ohio State season mark. She also set the season mark for goals against average at 7.28 and holds the career record at 8.08.

Ohio State loses four starters from this year’s successful squad. Departing are Bounds, Wilson, Vogler and Lowe. They represent 41 percent of OSU’s points in 2003 but with outstanding student-athletes like Oliver, Forquer and Carter returning, the Buckeyes should continue to be able to challenge the best teams in the country.

BUCKEYES WIN THE AMERICAN LACROSSE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

Ohio State, with a 15-9 victory over Ohio University, won the American Lacrosse Championship in Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The outright championship is due to the wording of the bylaws of the Conference. Despite finishing tied with Penn State (5-1) in the conference standings, the Buckeyes won the championship based on the listed criteria of head-to-head competition with Penn State, to determine the champion. On April 27, Ohio State defeated Penn State, 10-9, for its only loss in conference play.

BUCKEYES TAKE TOP POSTSEASON ALC HONORS

The American Lacrosse Conference announced the 2003 All-Conference squads and special awards selected by a vote of the league coaches. The 2003 ALC Champion Buckeyes were honored with the three player awards: Player of the Year – Regina Oliver; Goalie of the Year – Erin Forquer; Rookie of the Year – KC Carter and the Coach of the Year – Sue Stimmel. Oliver, Forquer, Tracey Bounds and Shannon Wilson were named to the ALC First Team All-Conference Squad. Additionally, Kimberly Lowe was selected to the second team.

THREE NAMED IWLCA/U.S. LACROSSE ALL-AMERICANS

Ohio State had three student-athletes named to the IWLCA/U.S. Lacrosse All-American team. Regina Oliver and Shannon Wilson were selected to the second team and Kimberly Lowe was named to the third team.

BUCKEYES HAVE FOUR MID-ATLANTIC ALL-REGION SELECTIONS

Four players have been selected to the Brine IWLCA/U.S. Lacrosse Mid-Atlantic All-Region Team. Named to the first team were Tracey Bounds, Regina Oliver, Shannon Wilson and Kimberly Lowe.

OLIVER NAMED FIRST TEAM WARRIOR/INSIDE LACROSSE ALL-AMERICAN, FOUR OTHERS HONORED

Regina Oliver has been named a first team Warrior/Inside Lacrosse All-American while four other teammates were also honored. Erin Forquer and Shannon Wilson were second team selections with Tracey Bounds and Kimberly Lowe named to the third team.

womenslacrosse.com NAMES Regina Oliver A FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN, FIVE OTHERS HONORED

OSU’s Regina Oliver has named a first team All-American by womenslacrosse .com. Also honored were Tracey Bounds, Erin Forquer and Shannon Wilson to the second team and Kimberly Low to the third team. Buckeye KC Carter was named to the All-Rookie Team.

OHIO STATE’S EXTENDS TEAM SEASON WIN MARK AGAINST DUKE

Ohio State’s 10-7 win at Duke was the Buckeyes 14th win of the season and establishes a new season record for victories in a season. The previous record was 11 set last season when the Buckeyes finished 11-5.

FORQUER ADDS TO SEASON RECORD FOR GOALIE WINS

Buckeye goalie Erin Forquer, with the win at Duke Thursday, has a record of 14-2 this season. The 14 wins sets a single season record for wins. Forquer held the previous record of 11 set during her freshman season when she was 11-5. She has a career record of 25-7 and is one win from tying the career wins record of 26 held by Megan Barnett (1999-01) who had a 26-20 record.

OSU PICKS UP FOURTH WIN OVER A TOP-10 OPPONENT

Ohio State’s 10-7 win at No. 4 Duke marked the fourth time this season the Buckeyes have defeated an opponent that was ranked in the Top-10 of the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Poll. OSU defeated No. 9 North Carolina, 10-8, at home, won an 11-10 overtime decision at No. 7 Cornell and defeated No. 9 Penn State, 10-9 on the road. OSU has two losses against a Top-10 ranked schools. The Buckeyes lost, 10-5, to No. 2 Maryland in Columbus and 17-8 to No. 5 Princeton. The Duke win is OSU’s first victory over a Top-5 squad.

OHIO STATE 11TH IN FINAL IWLCA POLL

The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association final poll has ranked Ohio State 11th in the national poll released this week. The Buckeyes began the season 16th in the preseason poll and was in the Top-10 at ninth during the season. Loyola (Md.) (15-1) finished No. 1 in the poll.

OHIO STATE IN THE AMERICAN LACROSSE CONFERENCE STATISTICS

OSU’s Erin Forquer lead the American Lacrosse Conference statistically in goals against average at 6.28 and finished second in saves percentage at .527. Regina Oliver ranks fourth in scoring at 3.11 points per game and Shannon Wilson is sixth at 2.72. Oliver finished second in goals at 2.39 per game with Wilson fourth at 2.22. In draw controls per game, Oliver ranks third at 2.33 with KC Carter sixth at 1.89. Bounds ranks first in ground balls at 4.17 per game. Oliver is second at 3.78. In caused turnovers per game, Oliver ranks second at 2.94 with Kimberly Lowe fifth at 1.83. Brandie Williams (So., Hatboro, Pa.) is eighth at 1.44 and Wilson ninth at 1.22. The Buckeyes top the ALC in team defense giving up 7.72 goals per game. OSU is second in team offense with a 10.89 goals per game average and second in ground balls at 31.56 per game. OSU ranks fourth in draw controls at 10.11 per game.

OHIO STATE IN THE NCAA NATIONAL STATISTICS

In the final national statistics released by the NCAA, Ohio State was ranked ninth in the country in defense with a 7.72 goals against average and 12th in scoring margin at 3.17 points. The Buckeyes are 11th nationally in ground balls with a 31.56 per game average. Individually, Erin Forquer ranks seventh in goals against average at 7.28. Tracey Bounds is ninth in the country in ground balls with a 4.17 per game average. Regina Oliver is fourth in caused turnovers with 2.94 per game and 78th in ground balls at 3.94.

OSU SETS WIN STREAK WITH VICTORY OVER NORTH CAROLINA

Ohio State’s 10-8 victory over ninth-ranked North Carolina was the seventh consecutive win for the Buckeyes after a season opening loss to Stanford. The seven wins is the longest winning streak in the history of Ohio State women’s lacrosse. Previously the Buckeyes won its first six games of the 2002 season before falling to fifth-ranked North Carolina, 12-7.